The design of head mounted displays (HMD) for functional endoscopic sinus surgery (FESS) is discussed. Head mounted displays (HMD) have been advocated as a replacement or complement to the operating room video monitors and also have the capability for true stereo- endoscopic image display. Though video monitors have greatly enhanced surgical endoscopy by re-involving nurses and assistants in the actual mechanics of surgery, video monitors require the operating surgeon to be focused on the screen instead of the patient, often with awkward hand-eye relationships. Several factors are critical in the design and selection of a surgical HMD. Typical values for resolution, angular subtense, and field of view are discussed for standard video monitors, HMDs, and for comparison a 35 mm slide projection. The relationship between field of view and angular subtense is described and correlated to visual acuity properties of the human eye. The UC Irvine surgical experience with HMD assisted endoscopic surgery is discussed. The advantages and limitations of the system used in this study are discussed.

Date Published: 19 January 1996
PDF: 5 pages
Proc. SPIE 2623, Medical Applications of Lasers III, (19 January 1996); doi: 10.1117/12.230301

Published in SPIE Proceedings Vol. 2623:
Medical Applications of Lasers III
Stephen G. Bown; Herbert J. Geschwind M.D.; Raimund Hibst; Frederic Laffitte; Giulio Maira; Roberto Pini; Hans-Dieter Reidenbach; Hans H. Scherer M.D.; Pasquale Spinelli, Editor(s)